Unions Move to Oust Trade Union Royal Commissioner

CANBERRA -- The ACTU has announced it will move to try and remove Justice Dyson Heydon from his role heading up the Trade Union Royal Commission.

Incensed over bias allegations, the main trade union body has told the Commission that it will proceed on Friday with an application that the Commissioner disqualify himself.

Anger over the Commissioner has spill over into federal parliament with Prime Minister Tony Abbott accusing the Opposition of “smearing a decent man” and warning Labor that it is a criminal offence to attack a Royal Commissioner.

Justice Heydon conceded this week that he overlooked Liberal Party involvement in a speaking engagement.

The Commissioner subsequently withdrawn from the event, which is the subject of contention over whether it was a party fundraiser. The Prime Minister says it was not a fundraiser.

Labor insists the Commissioner must step down and says the government should shut the entire Royal Commission down.

The Opposition has sought today to find out how much Justice Heydon is being paid and has raise a two year old speech where his criticised the then Labor Government.

Tony Abbott has accused Labor of “smearing a decent man.”

“Dyson Heydon has served with great distinction as a judge,” Abbott told Parliament.

“He has served with great distinction as a judge and he is doing valuable and necessary work as a Royal Commissioner into union corruption.”

The Prime Minister says the Royal Commission is doing important work, “I can remind the house that already 30 individuals, including 26 union and ex union officials, have been referred to 11 agencies for possible charges.”